6 activities for children with Down syndrome

Play is one of the best tools to promote learning of the smallest, as well as to stimulate and enhance all kinds of cognitive abilities and skills. Through these recreational and fun activities we find a way not only to entertain children but also to stimulate their intellect and strengthen ties with them.

In addition, games as a means to stimulate cognitive abilities are one of the best resources in the cases of children with some type of special physical or psychological condition such as the syndrome of Down. In these little ones, it is very important to stimulate certain mental functions to encourage their use.

Throughout this article we will present a series of activities for children with Down syndrome.

• Related article: "Types of intellectual disability (and characteristics)"

The importance of play in Down syndrome

As we mentioned earlier, play is essential at all stages of child development. The reason is that It is not only useful for entertaining the little ones and getting them to have a good time

, but because they also favor the correct development of personality and cognitive abilities.

Through play, all children learn to know themselves as well as everything around them, including other people. They acquire all kinds of knowledge about their bodies and about how objects, instruments and utensils work.

As a general rule, children without any special health or psychological condition have the ability to learn to play on their own alone, although the fact of doing it with an adult reinforces the ability to interact with others as well as the bonds between they. However, this is not the case with children with Down syndrome.

In these cases the small they do not usually present that own initiative when starting the game, so the collaboration and support of another person is recommended. Due to the physical and psychological characteristics of this syndrome, the child may manifest certain difficulties in learning to play.

As a consequence, the amount of time and effort invested to enhance the game is essential to promote all kinds of cognitive abilities; from personal autonomy to language, attention and psychomotor skills.

During the first months of life, It is advisable to start the game routines without the need to use toys. In this way, through the gestures, expressions and words of the adult we favor the development of the capacity for representation and symbolization.

Children with Down syndrome require special play dynamics that emphasize these gestures and oral language, so that through imitation they can learn to perform gestures and proper movements. Finally, when games with objects and materials are introduced, the adult should guide the child to teach him to use these tools correctly.

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Recommended activities according to age

As with other children, each stage of the life of the child with Down syndrome is characterized by the acquisition and development of a series of competencies, so it is recommended that the games are adapted to these periods of childhood.

1. Children between 1 and 2 years old

For younger children with Down syndrome, it is recommended to propose these games.

• When they are standing, put toys or attractive objects that motivate them to move around.
• Walk hand in hand placing colored balls for him to shoot.
• Tower construction and manipulative games.
• Creative games with age-appropriate paints or waxes.
• Games to group colors, animals or objects.
• Reading children's stories with illustrations and drawings. Ask the child about the pictures.
• Ask the child to use speech and words to ask for things.

2. Children between 2 and 3 years

In this category of boys and girls, the type of activities proposed are the following.

• Mobility games and coordination with balls.
• Manipulative games like creating figures with plasticine.
• Listen and name sounds in the environment.
• Guessing games.

Activities according to cognitive area

From 3 years of age, the child with Down syndrome usually already has the language and motor skills necessary to carry out a large number of activities with them. From this age, it is advisable to perform games that enhance each and every one of the cognitive abilities.

Below we present a series of activities classified according to the cognitive area that they intend to stimulate in children with Down syndrome.

1. Psychomotor stimulation

Games that enhance the development of gross and fine motor skills help to strengthen musculature of the hands and extremities, which forms the basis of the development of their own autonomy.

1.1. Pass the ball through the hoop

The game consists of placing a series of balls and rings of different sizes for the child to catch and goal each ball into the corresponding hoop. We can also try that the balls and the rings are of the same colors so that the child also has to guess which ball goes in which place.

1.2. Guess the shape

This exercise is very useful to enhance fine motor skills as well as memory and attention. To do this, we provide the child with a sheet with a series of dotted lines that he has to join by tapping with an awl.

The child will have to dot the outline of the drawing trying not to get out. We can then ask the child in what way or object is being trafficked.

2. Language stimulation

Like the ability to move autonomously, enhancing language skills is essential in children with Down syndrome when it comes to gaining greater independence.

2.1. Theater and performance activities

With the aim of working on both language fluency, memory and interaction with other people, we can stage small representations or theaters in which the child must recite small lines or phrases. We can also ask you to read passages of texts aloud while gesturing.

These stories can show scenes from everyday life, as this will also give the child the ability to improvise.

3. Stimulation of attention and memory

Promoting care in children with Down syndrome it will favor their interaction with the environment and enhance other skills such as memory and language.

3.1. Storytelling

They are activities in which an adult reads or tells a story that is interesting or liked by the child. The objective is then to ask or ask them to tell us their version of the story in order to favor attention and memory processes and information retrieval.

3.2. Match the cards face down

In this activity we will have a deck of cards whose pictures can be paired two by two. The cards are placed in front of the child face down and we ask him to match the cards.

The cards can only be raised one at a time, so the child must remember where each of the pictures is located so that you can match them.

4. Stimulation of autonomy

Throughout the child's life, a large number of situations will arise in which the fact of having great autonomy will allow you to be independent and to be able to carry out all kinds of activities and interactions by himself.

4.1. We play shopping

The games and representations that involve simulating activities of daily life such as making any purchase will allow the child to learn how to interact in these situations, as well as grant you autonomy when carrying out operations with coins and bills, and manage your own money.

For this we can play shopping or markets, using bills and coins that the child can make or by using toys such as cash registers for children.